Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiepro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfiepro’, characterized by its double type light to medium pink-colored flowers-colored flowers, medium green and white-colored variegated foliage, and moderately vigorous, compact, and upright-mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiepro’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiepro’.

The new Impatiens cultivar is a naturally occurring sport of FIESTA ‘Pink Ruffle’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,616, characterized by its double type medium pink-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered as a side shoot and selected during December 2003 in a controlled greenhouse production environment at Cartago, Costa Rica.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since December 2003 at Cartago, Costa Rica and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiepro’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double type, light to medium pink-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green and white-colored variegated foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, and upright-mounded growth         habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in foliage color. In addition, plants of the new cultivar have a slightly lighter shade of flower color than plants of the parent.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Summer Ice Pink Ice, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Pink Ice’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a flower color different from         plants of ‘Pink Ice’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker leaf variegation         color than plants of ‘Pink Ice’.

In addition, the new cultivar is similar in comparison to Rosebud™ Pink Improved, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of Rosebud™ Pink Improved in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         Rosebud™ Pink Improved;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have different flower and leaf         colors from plants of Rosebud™ Pink Improved; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers than plants of         Rosebud™ Pink Improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiepro’. The plants were grown in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfiepro’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balfiepro’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Mar. 29, 2007 between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5 inch pots for 8 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 77° F. (21° C. to 25° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 68° F. (18° C. to 20° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar Balfiepro. -   Parentage:     -   -   Parent.—Fiesta Pink Ruffle, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,616. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 24             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             compact, and upright-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 8.3 cm. Width: Approximately 26.7 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Quantity of main             branches per plant: Approximately 5.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderately strong. Length: Approximately             10.6 cm. Diameter at central internode: Approximately             3.0 mm. Length of central internode: Approximately 1.2 cm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color of young and mature stems: 146B             with speckles of 185A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 8. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement:             Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, becomes perpendicular             with age. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Crenate, ciliate. Apex:             Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of             mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 7.6 cm. Width             of mature leaf at center of stem: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of             upper surface of young and mature foliage: Central area of             N138C to N138A and variegated margins of 155A with venation             indistinguishable from leaf. Color of lower surface of young             and mature foliage: 138B and variegated margins of 155A with             venation of 138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 138B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiepro’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             4 to 6 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Double. Quantity per plant:             Approximately 5. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity             showing color per plant: Approximately 4.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovoid. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Color: 62B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Width: Approximately 3.9 cm.             Depth: Approximately 1.8 cm. Borne: Above and below the             foliage.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 20. Shape: Obovate, innermost irregular.             Aspect: Flat. Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Obtuse, some are emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Length of             outermost petals: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width of outermost             petals: Approximately 1.7 cm. Length of innermost petals:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width of innermost petals:             Approximately 7.6 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             55C with margins of 55A. Color of lower surface when first             and fully open: 55D with margins of 55A.         -   Spur.—Quantity: 1 per flower. Length: Approximately 3.0 cm.             Diameter at tip: Less than 1 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145D with an             overlay of 185D and tip of 145C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Acute angle             to stem. Length: Approximately 3.4 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 145B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 4 with one fused to base of             upper petal. Shape of lateral sepals: Lanceolate. Shape of             lower sepal: Ovate. Apex of all sepals: Acute. Length of             lateral sepals: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of lateral             sepals: Approximately 1.0 mm. Length of lower sepal:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately             9.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces of all sepals:             Glabrous. Color of lateral sepals: 145D. Color of lower             sepal: 62D.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiepro’, substantially as herein shown and described. 